Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 85.2

Tao Qin and the others were bound to look for Song Yingshi and Huai Xu in their dormitory before subsequently discovering that they weren't there either. To avoid suspicion, they headed to the convenience store downstairs to buy some fruits and cultured milk to share with everyone later.

Although the convenience store offered various snacks and beverages, the third public performance was tomorrow. Few trainees would dare to indulge their taste buds during this critical period. Hence, they could only make do with fruits and cultured milk.

Song Yingshi carried the bag with fruits, while Huai Xu carried the one with cultured milk. When the two arrived at the sixth-floor's shared living room, they saw that many people were gathered there:

"Where were you two? We've been looking for you."

"Come, come. Thankfully, you two made it in time."

"Wow, what did you two buy?"

Song Yingshi smiled at her friends and answered, "We went to buy some beverages and fruits from the convenience store. Why were you all looking for us?"

While Song Yingshi gave her explanation, Huai Xu set the items they bought on a nearby table. When she saw the unboxed cake on the nearby food cart, she skillfully changed the subject, asking, "I don't see Rong Yi here. Where is she? Are we celebrating her birthday? What should we do?"

The trainees immediately had their attention diverted and passionately answered Huai Xu's questions:

"That's right; it's Rong Yi's birthday. We're giving her a surprise celebration. Jiaojiao tricked Rong Yi to the fifth floor, and they should return by 10.15 PM. We still have three minutes to prepare," Tao Qin explained.

"I wonder if Rong Yi will cry when she sees all of us gathered to celebrate her birthday?" Xing Huan wondered, smiling.

Song Yingshi smiled along with the others. Her smile deepened when she saw the seven VJs working overtime in the living room.

Huai Xu noticed Song Yingshi's amused look. Out of curiosity, she asked, "What's so amusing?"

"With so many cameras here, even if Little Rong Yi manages to hold back her tears, she'll still have to shed a few for the audience," Song Yingshi said mischievously.

Huai Xu was momentarily stunned, but she quickly understood Song Yingshi's point and couldn't help but chuckle.

Suddenly, Song Yingshi berated, "How can you laugh at Rong Yi? She's the star of today."

Huai Xu: "..."

Seeing Huai Xu speechless soothed Song Yingshi's little vexation, making her feel much more comfortable.

Shortly after, Wan Jiao and Rong Yi's voices came from the hallway outside the living room.

Immediately, everyone got into position. Quan Yuanyuan swiftly lit the candles on the cake while the other trainees gathered around the food cart before exiting the living room.

All 40 trainees gathered for the birthday celebration, their large number congesting the normally spacious hallway. Standing shoulder to shoulder, feet to feet, they looked in the same direction and sang "Happy Birthday" in unison.

Rong Yi was caught off guard by this situation, and she couldn't help but squeal in surprise, "Ahh!! I love you all to death! Thank you! Thank you all! I truly didn't expect this…"

"Really? Did you not suspect anything after all the distracting I did? That's so sad. Is it because there isn't enough love between us normally?" Wan Jiao teased.

While wiping the tears oozing from her eyes, Rong Yi smiled and said, "If it were during normal times, I definitely would've figured it out. But the third public performance is tomorrow. Also, everyone is here. Even if I suspected something, I would've expected a few people at most…"

As Rong Yi spoke, the tears that had previously only oozed began to pour.

Rong Yi honestly didn't think so many people would come to celebrate her birthday. Even if it was partly for publicity, it was a fact that all these people had made an effort to show up. As the recipient of everyone's blessings, she was genuinely moved and grateful.

Everyone's reactions were varied, but the overall atmosphere in the hallway was light, and nobody was deliberately being melodramatic.

"I knew you would cry! We even wagered on it, and I won, hahaha!"

"Hurry up and make a wish! You can take your time crying after we're done cutting the cake!"

"Don't cry, Team Leader. It'll affect our performance tomorrow."

The first few comments Rong Yi heard filled her with so much joy and gratitude that she didn't know what to say. However, the last comment from her teammate made her snap back to reality, and she promptly tried to hold back her tears as she said nervously, "That's right, I can't cry. I can't let my eyes swell up and affect my makeup."

Everyone gave a thumbs up to Rong Yi's professionalism.

However, a few people in the crowd shouted anguished screams: "Nooo! I wagered that she would cry for at least five minutes! It hasn't even been 30 seconds! It's my turn to cry now!"

These cries of anguish immediately caused a burst of laughter.

After Rong Yi made her wish, everyone divided the three-layered birthday cake in the living room. The cake was massive, so there was plenty for everyone. Not to mention, most of the trainees here only dared to have a bite.

"No, thank you. My scale's waiting for me back home; I dare sneak a meal at this hour," Lu Xuewen said.

Compared to birthday cake, the fruits and cultured milk that Song Yingshi and Huai Xu brought back were a bigger hit with the trainees, disappearing in no time.

Ultimately, much of the birthday cake remained. And as the trainees were a playful age, it didn't take long before the cake's cream turned into makeup—

The Great Cream-Spreading War erupted instantly!

Many trainees seized this opportunity to settle old grudges.

With a cake plate in her left hand and a large ball of cream in her right hand, Quan Yuanyuan chased after Dan Silan with a vicious look on her face, shouting, "Little Crybaby, don't run! It's time to pay for abusing your tears and vicious tongue!"

Dan Silan ran out of the living room without hesitation, followed closely by Quan Yuanyuan.

Meanwhile, Xing Huan dabbed some cream on her hand and politely asked Wen Qingzi, "May I wipe some cream on you? It seems interesting."

"I refuse," Wen Qingzi replied curtly.

Xing Huan responded with an 'oh' before ambushing Wen Qingzi while the latter was conversing with Wan Jiao. When Wen Qingzi turned to look at her with narrowed eyes, she laughed and said, "So even an overachiever can be dumb sometimes, hahaha! How can you believe me so easily?"

Wen Qingzi silently reached for a plate of cake.

Immediately, Xing Huan stopped laughing, a hint of panic appearing on her seductive face as she said, "Wen Qingzi, calm down. It's out of character for you to behave so childishly— Ahh, stay away! Stay away!"

At some point, Lu Xuewen, Li Taoran, and Kou Lengyu got together to draw kittens, puppies, and bunnies on each other's faces, making them look like they were filming for a children's channel. Everyone who passed by affectionately knocked their heads before fleeing, afraid of catching their silliness

…

Even Song Yingshi wasn't spared from the Great Cream-Spreading War, getting ambushed by Tao Qin and receiving a cream mark on her face.

Song Yingshi smiled helplessly at Tao Qin's antics, then retaliated with three cream marks of her own. Her gaze then shifted to Huai Xu, who, to her surprise, remained clean and pristine.

Although Huai Xu was already on friendly terms with everyone, her inherent coldness remained the same. It also didn't help that the distance between her and the other trainees seemed to grow as she grew as an idol. Because of this, few trainees dared to act presumptuously toward her.

As for the few brave warriors, they were in the middle of hosting their children's show, so Huai Xu ultimately got to escape the Great Cream-Spreading War unscathed.

At this time, Huai Xu seemed to have sensed Song Yingshi's gaze as she turned to look at her. And as they sat in front of the living room balcony's French windows, a slightly tipsy aura floating between them.

…

As the sweet scent of cream spread across the noisy living room, Lu Xuewen looked up and inadvertently saw Huai Xu walking toward the bedroom. Immediately, she abandoned her art and stretched out her hand, exclaiming, "Ah, I still haven't played with my Big Sis Xu!"

Kou Lengyu slapped Lu Xuewen's extended claw, saying, "What are you doing? Finish drawing the bear on my face."

Lu Xuewen's gaze stayed on Huai Xu's back. However, she didn't try to get close to Huai Xu; she satisfied with watching from a distance.

When Lu Xuewen eventually retracted her gaze, she saw that Song Yingshi was similarly walking toward the bedroom, her impeccable timing making one question whether it was deliberate or pure coincidence.

…

When Song Yingshi arrived outside the bedroom, she saw that Huai Xu had left the door open for her. It was a small gap that barely let any light escape.

Just as Song Yingshi was about to enter the room, the system reminded her, "Host, you still haven't completed your mission. You mustn't forget to refuse all of Huai Xu's requests tonight."

Song Yingshi: "..."

It seemed even the system knew that she was weak-minded and would easily fall prey to even the slightest temptation.

At this moment, Song Yingshi remembered she had a secret weapon. Immediately, her confidence rose, and she boldly opened the door and disappeared into the room.

When Song Yingshi closed the door behind her, the noise in the living room grew distant, sounding like a carnival that had nothing to do with her or Huai Xu.

As this thought crossed Song Yingshi's mind, she heard Huai Xu's gentle voice from the bathroom, "Shall I draw a bath for you?"

"Draw a bath?" Song Yingshi tilted her head, not expecting such a question.

"Let's shower together. You can use the bathtub," Huai Xu said, her indifferent tone making it sound like she was discussing having a meal together.

Song Yingshi: "..."

Song Yingshi naturally wouldn't accept the offer.

"The third public performance is tomorrow," Song Yingshi said, glancing at Huai Xu. "Besides, you know what you did today."

Huai Xu hummed in acknowledgment, her gaze fixed on Song Yingshi as she walked backward toward the bathtub. As the pure white curtains half-concealing the round bathtub framed her, she faintly smiled and withdrew her imposing aura, making herself appear even more beautiful and ethereal.

Song Yingshi's breath quickened as she looked at Huai Xu. And when she saw Huai Xu biting her thin lower lip and making a troubled look, her heart skipped a beat.

While Song Yingshi was in a daze, Huai Xu said in a cold but suggestive voice, "Then, I'll use the bathtub?"

Song Yingshi couldn't help but lock her gaze on Huai Xu.

Meanwhile, Huai Xu casually tugged on the curtains like tugging on someone's heartstrings, her relaxed posture accentuating her body's beautiful curves.

The next moment, Huai Xu pushed the curtains to the innermost part in one fell swoop, revealing the entire bathtub.

"The curtains make bathing suffocating."